Target Backs Same-Sex Marriage

Target Corp. is adding its name to a legal defense of gay marriage, joining other large companies that have taken a stand on same-sex unions.

Target says it signed a court brief backing marriage equality in a pending case. Starbucks, Intel and Apple have publicly backed gay marriage advocates in court cases or ballot issues.

Nearly all of Minnesota’s biggest corporations declined to take a position on the 2012 state referendum to ban gay marriage except for General Mills, which opposed the ban. The referendum failed and the state Legislature passed a bill recognizing same-sex marriage in 2013.

The Star Tribune says the case that Target’s brief supports combines legal actions in Wisconsin and Indiana. Federal judges overturned gay marriage bans in both states and state officials appealed.